this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
156 points (98.8% liked)
Linux
49059 readers
528 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
I would strongly encourage people to encrypt their on site data storage drives even if they never leave the house and theft isn’t a realistic thing that can happen.
The issue is hard drive malfunction. If a drive has sensitive data on it and malfunctions. It becomes very hard to destroy that data.
If that malfunctioning hard drive was encrypted you can simply toss it into an e-waste bin worry free. If that malfunctioning drive was not encrypted you need to break out some heavy tools tool ensure that data is destroyed.
If by heavy tools, you mean a screwdriver and an angle grinder, then yeah, but it's not that hard in reality.
I mean if you have an angle grinder and a space to safely use it sure. But it’s still harder than just dropping the HDD off at an e-waste bin.
If your drive starts malfunctioning, then without encryption you might be able to read some sectors and recover a few things. With encryption you are SOL.
This is why backups are important. But even if the drive is encrypted recovering data is exactly as easy as recovery from a non encrypted drive.
Like you lose the same sectors if those sectors are encrypted or not.
Great point.
I provided reasons why I encrypted my drives but this one is even better.
(Another one could be if you need to get your computer to a repair shop, and for some reason you can't just remove the drive.)
1 torx screwdriver 1 hammer
not the hardest thing to scratch up the platters and then fold them into abstract art
I don't bother to take out the screws. I just drill handful of holes trough the whole thing. Or if you're really paranoid a MAP torch is enough to melt the whole thing (don't breath the smoke).
True. This does work. But it is less secure and much harder than just tossing an encrypted HDD into an e-waste bin. It probably is more fun though. 🤔
I just encrypt devices that leave the house. I do have access to a hard drive crusher if I lose a drive (recently crushed a tablet that wouldn't power on)
Fair. If you have access to a crusher then maybe I can see not encrypting. But even then with non encrypted drives files can be recovered even after deleting etc.